Bella: The Begining (Sagatori Family Saga #1)

by Kimberly Soto

  I was bound to a chair and my wrists burned from the rope that cut into my flesh. My father’s words came back into my head with full force while I waited for him to kill me. “You’re a Sagatori. They can only have what you let them have. They can only take what you let them take, but you… you can have and take anything you’d like because the world is yours,” Papa had said this to me many times. Until now, I hadn't understood what it meant.

  “You, Isabella, are worth everything I could pay. You are worth the price. You wait for your husband to wake up and save you. How far has that gotten you?” His expression was one of seriousness. “Well?” He stood leaning against the wall. I remained quiet. “It's a shame and a waste. You make a good wife. You’re loyal, but you'll die just the same.”

  “Die? You think that you can control me with threats? Just kill me!” I spit.

  “No, it's not me that will kill you Isabella.” He turned again walking into the darkness before I was able to respond.

  I pulled and tugged forcefully against the rope attempting to escape when I heard a pair of squishy footsteps approaching. A large man wearing a holster on his left shoulder and a hat that covered his face reached for me. My eyes pinned to his movements while my body stiffened. He would kill me, and that would end this. He spoke in Russian…words I didn’t understand. He placed a bind around my eyes and released my hands only to tie them at my front.

  “What’s happening?” I jerked my head trying to loosen the material from my eyes.

  He spoke again while he pulled me along as if I were a mere rag doll and nothing more.

  I listened to the whispers in the distance. A creak of the floor— a machine, maybe an engine— roared to life. Now I was worried. I fought the man but he held onto my arm with a grip I couldn’t get loose from.

  A loud popping sound caused me to duck instinctively. The noise came fast. One. Two. Three. Pop, pop, pop. Gunfire. The grip that had held me, loosened. Russian voices echoed and footsteps rustled. I reached up to the blindfold and pulled it down when the man’s hand released from my arm. His large body lay lifeless on the ground with blood oozing from his head.

  I crawled behind a large metal box and searched for his gun finding it next to his lifeless body.

  “Bella?”

  Chase?

  I gripped the edge of the metal box I used as shelter. I peeked over the edge seeing Chase and two other men stood in the middle of the warehouse. Chase hovered over a man pulling something from behind his back. Metal sparkled in his hand...a gun.

  “Stop!” I stumbled forward, reaching out with my hands. With composure, a deep breath, and more composure, I stood tall, my heart pounded and I was nervously shaken, but this was my time. “Don’t,” I stumbled from behind the box that had turned out to be part of a conveyer belt. Once I’d found my footing, I stepped over the dead body that lay beneath me. My foot landed deep into a pool of fresh blood as I stepped forward.

  Chase was bent at one knee leaning over the man I’d wanted to have a chat with. “Nice to see you too.” His smug grin watched me carefully.

  I avoided the bloody bodies that lay around me. I was in the center of what really happened in my world. I knew it existed on some level, and sure, I’d thought about it. I’m not going to lie and say I’d never wanted to know what it was like living with no remorse for my actions.

  The man that lay underneath Chase gasped for air. His large hands clasping at his throat. “What are you doing?” He stared up in panic, his eyes engorged and red.

  I still gripped the large pistol I’d taken from the other idiot in my tied hands. “Untie me.” Chase quickly released a knife from his pocket and cut me free. “Thank you, but I need you to get out of my way,” I ordered waiving the loaded metal at the three. “I need answers.”

  “Hey, damn!” the three men yelled as they jumped back from where I waved the gun.

  “Don’t get your panties in a wad, boys.” I knelt down. The man watched me through terrified brown eyes. His brow was raised and furrowed. I had no idea that having a man fear me would feel so exhilarating. But it damn sure did. “Where’s your boss?”

  He mumbled something in Russian with a strong accent. I couldn’t repeat it even if I’d tried.

  “English!” I twisted his collar with my fingers. “Where is your boss?”

  “Fuck you!” he spit, literally in my face. His Bloody saliva entered my eye and any disease this asshole had I now had too. Oh that pissed me off, leaving me physically shaking with anger

  “There are only two possibilities.” I looked up to Chase who had just kicked him in his jaw and then pressed his size fifteen shoe into the guy’s chest. “I’ve got this.” I waved him away.

  He smirked, crossed his arms, and backed away. “Okay, princess.”

  I rolled my eyes annoyed with his sarcasm. “Where’s your boss?”

  “I’m not telling you shit, woman.” His growl was one that came from pain, a lot of pain.

  I smiled. “Do you think he’ll talk?” I gripped the man’s hair pushing his head back.

  Chase shook his head. “No, the Bratva never talk.”

  “I agree.” I was wasting my time with this guy. I could stand and walk away, but what would that say about me? I knew what would happen in the end. Chase or one of his men would kill him. I could say without a doubt that I had no remorse for his inevitable impending doom. The Bratva had been responsible for so many murders in the last months, which meant this asshole had probably been a part of them too. This included my husband’s attempted murder— the father of my unborn child— I was certain. No, I couldn’t let this go. Giving this responsibility to one of the three that stood in front of me would mean my weakness was exposed. That small part of me that wanted to walk away had been voted out. My husband’s men would think I was the typical woman. Okay, I say typical, of course that’s the men’s wording not mine.

  I stood, pulled the hammer down, and pointed it to the Russian pig that lay beneath me. “Any last words?”

  “Bella, what the fuck?” Chase reached for the gun, but he was in for a disappointment.

  My eyes narrowed; shame or weakness hadn’t been a part of my demeanor then. I was strong and confident as I watched him. “Don’t question me again,” I snapped at Chase before taking my attention back to the man. Sweat pooled around his eyes like he knew what was coming. My finger pressed along the trigger and the ridges pressed into my flesh as I pulled on the metal. I knew there would be a bit of recoil, so I braced myself pressing my weight into my stance. I reached with my other hand supporting the butt of the gun and followed through with a shot to his forehead. The gun’s power threw me back quite a bit despite how much I tried to avoid it.

  “Holy fucking shit,” Chase gasped.

  “Don’t be such a pussy.” I turned away from him to take in a comforting deep breath.

  Why had that been so easy for me to do?

  I looked down to the concrete floor not wanting to see what I’d done, knowing I was going to Hell. The sins committed with spilled blood were thought to be forgiven once a confession had made. But this sin, for me, I’d willingly throw myself into the flames of Hell. My eyes made contact with the mess that I’d caused. What was left of his head floated in a shiny pool of dark red blood.

  I watched as the deep-red circle-grew, spilling over to the tips of my shoes. His eyes were open wide—watching me with large black circles of emptiness.

  Chase slowly reached for my wrists. “Bella?” he was questioning my sanity I was sure.

  I was very sane. They’d killed many of the men in the Sagatori family, they’d not had a single thought of sparing my husband’s men. Then they turned around to attempt Jax’s life as well.

  I narrowed my eyes lifting them to Chase’s as I tucked the gun in my pants. “I want Orlov; have I made myself clear?”

  Chase continued watching with surprise etched in the creases of his eyes. This had probably not been something they’d seen a woman do.

>   Thunder began to roar shaking the tin above us while rain pelted hard against the metal building. “Can we go?” I asked.

  “You tell me?” Chase was being sarcastic as usual; angry that I’d put an end to the guy he had already planned to kill.

  “Oh wait!” My eyes moved toward the area I’d come from. “My bag.”

  “Shit.”

  Chase followed behind me as I searched for my bag. I needed to search the room I had been held in. I began searching, hoping that I’d find it. Twenty precious minutes passed before I stepped inside a small makeshift office. It was dark and difficult to see anything familiar. Chase held the flashlight on his phone allowing me to see.

  A chair sat alone in the middle of the space. The desk that I’d seen earlier sat against a wall and held only an ashtray. “This is where he had me tied up.” I pointed to the chair.

  Chase’s hand cupped the bend of my elbow. “You okay?

  I ignored the question seeing my bag, “There.” It lay on the floor in heap, all of my belongings scattered across the floor. With the exception of my phone— it had been shattered— and my father’s gun was missing. “He took Papa’s gun.”

  “It’s okay,” Chase said pulling me through the room.

  An eerily calm echo was interrupted by the rain and clap of thunder. Seven men lay dead on the ground. Seven men lost their lives in blood shed. Seven men that deserved every bit of what they got, and the eighth was still at large. We’d find him. I’d make sure of it.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  —Bella—

  Chase kindly drove me to the penthouse so I could shower and change. I did so, quickly. I’d wanted to return to Jax more than anything. Once I was dressed and ready to leave, I slipped back inside of my closet opening one of Jax’s drawers. One large, gold-plated pistol lay flat, wrapped inside of a white handkerchief. I unwrapped and investigated the weapon testing the sight. With a firm grip I aimed at a pair of heels a few feet away, It made me feel powerful. I slipped the already loaded clip inside, double checked the safety, and tucked it inside my bag. I’d planned to kill Orlov with Papa’s gun but this one would do.

  Another few minutes in the car we were in front of Chicago Memorial.

  “You good?” Chase questioned.

  I nodded. I hadn’t been okay for a long time, but I’d learned to accept that my life was different from most a long time ago. I wouldn’t have a normal life even though I’d fooled myself into believing I could. I would always be different than most women my age. And now, I had killed two men, I’d become a murderer for both revenge and honor. I’d become everything the men were, and now it was time they treated me like more than a fragile princess.

  The elevator doors opened and in slow motion Emily ran toward me. Her arms raised and flailed as she reached for me, tears swam in her eyes, and her strawberry cheeks pulled into a smile. “Isabella!” She flung her body into mine. Her cries pounded into me, vibrating my soul. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry!”

  The room began to spin and my knees gave out landing me into a heap on the floor. What had happened? I wanted to ask her, but my mouth wouldn’t find the words. I knew the answer. My body was heavy, too heavy to hold myself up. Tears flowed and dripped from my nose and chin knowing something horrible had happened to Jax while I was gone.

  “I know you wanted to be here when he woke up, I’m so sorry you missed it.” She pulled back.

  “But I…” I wiped at the tears.

  “Jesus, Emily,” Tony chided shaking his head. “He’s awake.” He nodded toward the hallway. “Fucking dramatic.”

  I was standing inside the hospital room in seconds. “Jax,” I whispered.

  Alessandra stood next to him praying I assumed as her eyes were closed and she held onto her crucifix. I smiled, stepping inside of the room. My flats were silent; he hadn’t seen me yet. I smiled as I watched his eyes move, his lips move, his hands move. The most glorious day of my life was seeing him do the things I’d prayed so hard for and those prayers had finally been answered.

  His eyes grazed the florescent lights before falling on mine. A smile crested over his beautiful lips as he spoke my name. “Isabella.”

  I wasn’t sure I’d ever hear my name on his lips. “Jax.” My smile was larger than life. Happiness filled my soul.

  “Everyone out.” He waved his hand with weakness in the gesture. It would take time to get his strength back.

  Alessandra, Mrs. And Mr. Moretti, and their other two sons stared at me the moment he spoke and filed into the hallway.

  “Come here.” I didn’t rush… I was scared. Was he okay? I wouldn’t be able to keep from touching him but would that be okay? “Bella?” he questioned.

  I took the final step brining me close enough for my thighs to touch the bed. Was he really awake and smiling at me? Was this a dream? I collapsed next to him. “I missed you so much.” My head fell to his chest.

  He wrapped his arms around me filling the void I’d had for so long. “I’m right here, baby.”

  “I thought you were going to die.” I fought the tears. I fought them so hard until all the pain finally exploded against protest. “I killed them.”

  “Isabella?” I didn’t want to move. “Isabella?” His hand caressed my hair smoothing my worries into nothing. “Isabella?” I took a deep breath relishing in his touch.

  “Yes?” I tucked myself into his embrace.

  ***

  “Wake up, Isabella.”

  My eyes opened, “It was a dream,” I muttered. I had dreamt Jax was awake.

  “Huh?” Chase muttered while tapping on his phone.

  “Nothing.” I nodded.

  The car delivered us to the front entrance of the hospital where we exited. The walk two the elevators was long and I was growing impatient as we walked to Jax’s room.

  I remained silent the rest of the evening; eventually falling asleep with my head nestled against Jax’s warm hand. I needed him to wake up… I needed him to hold me.

  ***

  I’d woken up to a sleeping Jax. I watched him lay there helpless to anyone that wanted to hurt him. And there were many that wanted to hurt him. One of which that stuck out to me a great deal. “Sleep, baby, I’ll protect you. I’ll keep you safe.” I combed through his hair with my fingers and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

  Tony and Sal had been covering for Jax with his crew, but how long would that hold? How long before they came looking for him demanding answers and sitting someone in his seat as boss? Not long.

  I took a few steps toward the window seeing that the sun was shining for the first time in a week. I stood resting my arms against my chest as I watched the cars pass. I considered my next move, eventually deciding that today was the day I’d do what needed done. I’d do whatever it took to protect this family from more senseless death.

  I stepped outside the room closing the door quietly behind me. “Tony, I’d like to see you, Sal, and Chase… oh and Adam, today and you’ll need to have someone trustworthy protecting Jax.” I turned, slipping back inside of the room, I needed to call Jax’s private physician. It was time to have Jax moved to a safe location.

  I hadn’t given Tony a chance to ask what the meeting was about for many reasons, but for now I’d keep those reasons to myself.

  ***

  Emily had arrived at the penthouse the same time Tony, Sal, Chase, and I had. I couldn’t ask her to leave; we barely saw each other as it was. So, against my better judgment, I let her stay.

  I’d separated myself from the group leaving them downstairs while I walked upstairs to my room. I sat on Jax’s side of our bed staring at a picture from our wedding. We hadn’t been together very long, but I knew that I loved him. When it happens you just know. I knew I’d die for him. It didn’t bother me that he killed people, and despite the fact that made Jax a monster, I loved him anyway. It didn’t bother me that I’d killed the two men I had. I guess that made me a monster as well. I had his love and I’d never walk away from t
hat. I’d run to it, embrace it, caress it… and soon he’d do the same.

  I slipped into a white blouse and black pencil skirt. I slid my hairbrush through my dark locks, dabbed a bit of the perfume Jax loved onto my wrists and neck, and covered my lips with red stain. I watched the woman inside the mirror wondering where the once happy go lucky girl had gone seeing what she now had become; a powerless girl turned into a vengeful woman.

  “What are you thinking, Bella?” Alessandra approached. She knew me so well.

  My head fell as I spoke softly “I’m thinking that I have to keep him safe.”

  “And who will keep you safe, child?”

  I raised my head flush with Alessandra’s chest as she held my shoulders. I blinked. One. Two. Three times. “No one.” I knew I had no one but Jax to keep me safe. We could only trust each other.

  I rose from the chair and walked toward the door. “Isabella,” she paused and I stilled my movement. “You’re a strong woman with more power than you realize, but you must search deep within yourself to see what I see.” She paused again. I turned to face her. “Or you’ll fail and then no one will be here to protect him.” Alessandra locked eyes with me for a long beat before I broke away.

  Once again Alessandra had been right. I knew searching deep within myself to find the confidence I needed must be done. I had to forget everything I’d always been told.

  Walking down the stairs allowed me a bit more time to think about my next move. I’d spoken with Jax’s physician and it was decided we’d have him moved under another pseudo name hopeful no one would figure out who and where he was. Why the Bratva hadn’t killed him was beyond me. But I was certain they would come back for him and me soon enough. My heels tapped against the hardwood floor acknowledging my approach into the great room. All eyes turned toward me. I wanted so badly to let the smirk I held onto escape, a darkened faced was my goal though. I needed to practice my poker face with those that knew me best.